Storage units

ABSTRACT

A storage unit for storing and dispensing articles, wherein the articles may be stored on a slide in a housing in stacked relation to each other, the slide and housing may be raised as a unit by pulling upwardly on the slide, and the stack may be raised to selected heights relative to the housing for disposing the articles in position to be removed from the housing.

United States Patent Alter Sept. 9, 1975 STORAGE UNITS 3,130,836 4/l964Conrad 206/437 )4 3,207,212 9 1965 C l 206 437 X [76] Inventor: RichardR. Alter, 608 McDowell St., Delavan, Wis. 53] l [22] Filedi M y 1973Primary Exuminer-Donald F. Norton [2 1] pp NO 359 101 Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Root & O'Keeffe Related US. Application Data [63]Continuation-in-part 0f Ser. No. 275.5l6. July 27,

I972, abandoned. [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 206/534; 206/438; 206/443;

99; 20 53 20 04 A storage unit for storing and dispensing articles, [51]In. 12 3 5 42 wherein the articles may be stored on a slide in a [58]Fidd f Search 2 30 437 43 499 housing in stacked relation to each other,the slide and 20 220 g; 229 9 1 1 19 2 housing may be raised as a unitby pulling upwardly on 215 m0 R the slide, and the stack may be raisedto selected heights relative to the housing for disposing the arti- [56]References Cited cles in position to be removed from the housing,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,233 3/l953 Kirchcr 220/17 X 11 Claims, 8Drawing Figures 6 4 li Q /9 2 l 2 f j 3 STORAGE UNITS CROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pcndingapplication for US. letters Pat, Ser. No. 275,5 lo. filed July 27, I972,now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to storage units forstoring and dispensing articles, and. more particularly, to storageunits which are particularly well adapted for storing and dispensingelongated articles, such as artificial insemination straws and ampules.and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to al ford a novelstorage unit.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storageunit in which articles may be stored. and from which articles may bedispensed. in a novel and expeditious manner.

Many articles, such as, for example, ampules or straws containing semen,and containers of blood plasma, and the like. commonly are stored in afrozen state at temperatures several hundred degrees below zero,Fahrenheit, such as, for example, in freezer compartments containingliquid nitrogen, and the like. In many instances such articlesheretofore have been so stored in freezer compartments individually. orin containcrs such as boxes, or the like, or on racks or other similarsupporting devices such as rods, or canes" whereby they are supported onexternally projecting platforms or between externally projectingfingers, and the like. Facilities heretofore known in the art forstoring such articles commonly have had several inherent disadvantages,such as, for example, not affording ready identification of individualarticles; being difficult to remove or dispense such articles therefrom,not affording adequate protection against breakage of such articles;being difficult to load or unload; or being complicated in constructionand operation, and the like. It is an important object of the presentinvention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storageunit for storing articles in what may be classed as an extremely coldrefrigerant, such as liquid nitrogen, and the like.

Another object is to afford a novel storage unit of the aforementionedtype which affords novel, readily discernablc identification for thearticles being stored therein.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storageunit of the aforementioned type which affords effective protection forarticles stored therein.

A further object is to afford a novel storage unit of the aforementionedtype embodying a slide type of supporting member for such articles and ahousing disposed on the slide, with the slide and housing constitutedand arranged relative to each other in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storageunit of the aforementioned type wherein the slide is so disposed in thehousing, in stored position, that the entire storage unit may be liftedand supported by lifting on the slide and the slide may thereafter bemoved out of the housing.

Another object is to afford a novel storage unit ofthe aforementionedtype from which articles may be dispensed or removed quickly and easily.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel storageunit which may be readily and eeonomi cally produced commercially, andwhich is practical and efficient in operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side clevational view of a storage unit em bodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elcvational view looking in the direction of the arrows22 in FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end portion of the storageunit shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the supporting member embodied in thestorage unit shown in FIG. I, with the storage member removed from thehousing of the unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, similar to FIG. 3, but showingthe supporting member partially removed from the housing;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary. detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line of 77 in FIG. 4', and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the storage unit.looking in the same direction as in FIG. I, but with the projecting endportion of the supporting member disposed in a different operativeposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN A storage unit I, embodyingthe principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings toillustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The storage unit I embodies. in general, an elongated housing 2, havingan elongated supporting member or slide 3 slidably mounted therein forlongitudinal movement relative thereto.

The housing 2 may be of any suitable construction, but preferably, asshown in the drawings, is tubular in construction, embodying a tubularside wall 4, which is substantially straight and open at its upper end 5and its lower end 6, FIG. 1. The housing 2 shown in the drawings iscircular in transverse cross section, FIG. 2, but, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, may be of other suitable crosssectional shapes, such as. for example, square, or the like, withoutdeparting from the purview of the broader aspects of the presentinvention. The housing 2 may be made of any suitable, such as, forexample, steel, aluminum, or a suitable plastic material, such as, forexample. polyethylene.

The supporting member 3 may be made of any suit able material. such as.for example. sheet steel or sheet aluminum. and the like. and embodies asubstantially straight elongated body portion 7. A handle. which is inthe form of a tab 8. projects from one end of the body portion 7. and isshown in FIGS. 1-6 as being disposed in axial alignment therewith. Atthe other end of the body portion 7. an abutment member 9 projectssubstantially perpendicularly therefrom. In the preferred form of theinvention shown in the drawings. the entire elongated supporting member.including the body portion 7. the tab 8 and the abutment member 9 aremade from a suitable single piece of material. such as. for example. theaforementioned sheet steel or sheet aluminum. or the like.

The body portion 7 of the supporting member 3 embodies longitudinallyspaced wider portions 10. ll. 12, I3 and 14 spaced from each other bynarrower portions l5, 16. 17 and 18, respectively.

The end portion 10a of the wider portion 10, remote from the tab 8. isof substantially the same width as the wider portions 11-14. The tab 8is of substantially greater width than the wider portions 11-14, and theportion 10b. of the wider portion 10, which extends from the end portion10a to the tab 8. FIGS. 4 and 5. gradually increases in width from theend portion 100 to the same width as the tab 8. at its junction with thelatter. to thereby afford a tapered or wedge shape for a purpose whichwill be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The body portion 7 of the supporting member 3 preferably is somewhatarcuate in transverse cross section FIGS. 2 and 7, and the widerportions 11-14 are of such width. and the abutment member 9 projectsfrom the body portion 7 such a distance that. when the supporting member3 is disposed in position in the housing 2. with the abutment member 9.wider portions 11-14 and the end portion 101: therein. but with theportion 10/; and the tab 8 projecting upwardly from the upper endthereof. the supporting member 3 is disposed in the housing 2 with arelatively snug. but freely slidable fit.

When the supporting member 3 is disposed in normal. fully insertedposition in the housing. as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the portion b ispartially disposed in the end portion 5 of the housing 2. In thisposition. the portion 10 is wedgingly engaged. with a force fit, withthe inner surface of the housing 2. effective to frictionally hold thehousing 2 on the supporting member 3 when the storage unit 1 issupported by the tab 8 in depending relation to the latter.

The inside diameter of the tubular side wall 4 of the housing 2 is suchthat articles to be stored in the storage unit 1, and to be dispensedtherefrom. such as. for example. the articles 19. FIG. 5. may beinserted downwardly through the upper open end of the housing 2 intostacked relation along the supporting member 3 with the lowermostarticle 19 resting on the upper face of the abutment member 9. FIG. 6.Preferably. the length of the housing 2 is such that the uppermostarticle 19, when it is disposed in stored relation in the housing 2.terminates at its upper end in downwardly spaced relation to the upperend 5 thereof.

The wider portions 10-14 of the body portion 7 of the supporting member3 preferably are of greater width. transversely to the length of thehousing 2 than the corresponding width of the articles. such as thearticles 19. to be stored in the housing 2. FIG. 2. and are spaced fromeach other longitudinally of the body portion 7 less than the length ofthe articles to be stored. FIG. 4. With such construction. each of thearticles 19 is laterally supported by at least one of the wider portions10-14. when the articles are disposed in operative position along thesupporting member 3.

The narrower portions 15-18 of the body portion 7 preferably arenarrower in width. transversely of the length of the housing 2 than thecorresponding width of the articles. such as the articles 19 to bestored in the housing 2. Like the wider portions 10-14, the narrowerportions 15-18 are spaced from each other a distance less than thelength of the articles to be stored in the storage unit 1, so that atleast one of the narrower portions 15-18 is disposed opposite to aportion of each of the articles 19, when the latter are disposed instacked position on the abutment member 9.

With the storage unit 1 constructed in the aforementioned manner. afterit has been filled with articles. such as the articles 19, to be storedtherein, and the supporting member 3 has been disposed in itsaforementioned normal. fully inserted position in the housing 2. whereinthe portions 10b wedgingly engage the side walls of the housing 2, thestorage unit 1 may be disposed in upright position in a freezercompartment. with the lower end 6 of the housing 2 resting on a suitablesupporting surface. not shown. such as. for example. the bottom of thecompartment. In this position of the storage unit 1. the abutment member9 on the supporting member 3 is disposed at the lower end 6 of thehousing 2. and the tab 8 projects outwardly from the upper end 5 of thehousing 2. as shown in FIG. 1. The tab 8 on each storage unit 1 may bearsuitable indicia. such as. for example. being painted a distinctivecolor or bearing a stamp or otherwise attached legend. such asidentifying name. number. or the like, for identifying the particulararticles disposed in the respective storage units 1. Although I preferthat the tabs 8 on the individ ual storage units 1 project from the bodyportion 7 of the supporting member 3 in substantially axial alignmenttherewith, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. they may. if desired. be disposed,by bending in other positions. such as. for example. in a positionwherein they project transversely to the length of the body portion 7.as shown in FIG. 8.

Irrespective of whether the tabs 8 are disposed in the position shown inFIG. 1. or in a transversely extending position, as shown in FIG. 8,they afford readily visible. and practical indicators for indicating thecontents of the particular storage units 1. of which they form a part.In addition. in either position, each of the tabs 8 affords a readilyaccessible handle by which the entire storage unit 1 may be readilylifted upwardly out of the liquid nitrogen. or the like. in which it hasbeen stored. Thereafter. by holding the housing 2 and pulling upwardlyon the tab 8, the supporting member 3 may be withdrawn upwardly throughthe upper end 5 of the housing 2 to thereby elevate the supply ofarticles stored in the housing 2. As each such article is raised fromthe housing 2, it may be gripped by suitable means such as. tongs, orthe like. at two points disposed on opposite sides of the respective oneof the narrower portions 15-18 disposed opposite to the particulararticle. such as. for example. at the points A and B shown with respectto the uppermost article 19 in FIG. 5.

The thus gripped article may then be manually removed from the storagetube l. and the supporting member 3 may be pressed downwardly into fullinserted. storage position in the housing 2. or. if desired. it may beraised further from the housing 2 to permit additional articles to beremoved from the storage unit 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords anovel storage unit which is particularly well adapted for use in freezerchambers wherein articles are stored in liquid nitrogen. or the like.the articles stored being readily identifiable from the tabs 8. whichmay project upwardly above the liquid nitrogen. and the storage unitbeing readily removable from the refrigerant by lifting on the tab 8.while retaining the housing in position to effectively contain andprotect the articles l9 disposed therein. Thereafter. the articles maybe readily removed. one after the other. from the storage unit 1, itmerely being necessary for the operator to raise the supporting member 3relative to the housing 2 a sufficient distance to permit the respectivearticle to be gripped at the adjacent narrower portion of the bodyportion 7 for removal of the article from the particular storage unit I.If it is desired to again dispose the storage unit 1 in the freezerchamber. the supporting member 3 may again be pushed downwardly intonormal. fully inserted position in the housing 2, wherein it iseffective to support the latter. and the storage unit I may be graspedby the tab 8 and inserted into the freezer chamber.

Also. it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel storageunit which affords effective protection against breakage of the articlesbeing stored therein. the articles being entirely enclosed within aprotective outer housing when they are disposed in stored positionwithin the unit.

Also. it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel storageunit which affords effective protection against breakage of the articlesbeing stored therein. the articles being entirely enclosed within aprotective outer housing when they are disposed in stored positionwithin the unit.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novelstorage unit which is practical and efficient in operation. and whichmay be readily and eco nomically produced commercially.

Thus. while I have illustrated and described the pre' ferred embodimentof my invention. it is to be understood that this is capable ofvariation and modification. and I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe precise details set forth. but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

1 claim:

l. A storage unit for storingly supporting and dispensing articles, andcomprising a. an elongated housing having l. a tubular side wall. and

2. an open end. and

b. an elongated. substantially straight. one-piece member I. mounted insaid housing in substantially coaxial relation thereto and with africtional fit relative thereto, and

2. longitudinally reciproeable in said housing through said open end,

c. said member including 1. an elongated body portion extendinglongitudinally of said housing. and 2. an abutment member a. on the endof said body portion remote from said open end. and b. extendingtransversely to the length of said housing for underlyingly supportingsuch an article in said housing on the side of said abutment memberfacing said open end.

d. said body portion having a portion for laterally supporting such anarticle so supported on said abutment member. and

c. said body portion having a sufficiently narrow maximum width. at saidportion thereof. for permitting such a so supported article to begrippingly engaged between members disposed at opposite lateral sides ofsaid portion of said body portion and lifted by said last mentionedmembers from said elongated member in a direction extending laterallyaway from said portion of said body portion.

2. A storage unit for storing elongated articles in longitudinallystacked relation to each other and for dispensing such articles. saidstorage unit comprising a. an elongated housing having 1. a tubular sidewall. and 2. an open end. and

b. an elongated member 1. mounted in said housing in substantiallycoaxial relation thereto. and 2. longitudinally reciproeable in saidhousing through said open end.

c. said member including 1. an elongated body portion extendinglongitudinally of said housing. and

2. an abutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote fromsaid o en end. and

b. extending transversely to the length of said housing for supportingsuch a stack of articles in longitudinally extending relation in saidhousing.

d. said body portion having alternate transversely wider and narrowerportions spaced longitudinally therealong for laterally supportingindividual ones of such articles. which are so supported by saidabutment member simultaneously from adjacent ones of said wider andnarrower portions and thereby permitting such laterally supportedarticles to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at oppositelateral sides of said narrower portions for lifting said articles fromsaid elongated member in a direction extending laterally away from saidnarrower portions.

said wider portions projecting outwardly beyond said narrower portionsin two lateral directions.

3. A storage unit as defined in claim 2. and in which said elongatedmember comprises an elongated. substantially straight strip of sheetmaterial.

4. A storage unit as defined in claim 3. and in which said abutmentmember comprises an end portion of said strip.

5. A storage unit as defined in claim 2. and in which a. said elongatedmember includes an end portion projecting outwardly from said open endin all positions of said elongated member in said housing and b. saidwider portions frictionally engage said side wall on opposite sides ofsaid housing.

6. A storage unit for storing articles in stacked relation anddispensing said articles therefrom, said storage unit comprising a. anelongated, substantially straight. tubular housing.

b an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member I. mounted insaid housing in longitudinally extending relation thereto, and

2. manually reciprocable in said housing through one end of the latterbetween a. an inserted position in said housing, and

b. a withdrawn position in said housing,

c. said elongated member engaging said housing with a frictional fit insaid inserted position for releasably holding said elongated member frommovement toward said withdrawn position,

d. said elongated member having 1. a laterally projecting abutment onone end thereof for supporting such a stack of articles thereon, and 2.an end portion a, remote from said abutment, and

b. projecting outwardly from said one end of said housing,

c. for affording an identifying indicia for the storage unit and ahandle for reciprocating said elongated member inwardly and outwardlythrough said one end of said housing.

7. A storage unit as defined in claim 6, and in which a. said endportion of said elongated member is movable between one position whereinit is disposed in substantially longitudinal alignment with said housingand a position wherein it extends transversely to the length of saidhousing, when said elongated 9. A storage unit for storing articles instacked relation and dispensing said articles therefrom, said storageunit comprising a. an elongated, substantially straight, tubular housingb. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member I. mounted insaid housing in longitudinally extending relation thereto, and

2. manually, longitudinally movable in said housing through one end ofthe latter between a. a fully inserted position in said housing, and b.a withdrawn position in said housing 0. said elongated member having 1.a laterally projecting abutment on one end portion thereof forsupporting such a stack of articles thereon,

2. another end portion remote from said one end portion, and

3. a third portion disposed between said one end portion and said otherend portion in position to operatively engage said one end of saidhousing when said member is disposed in said fully inserted position forreleasably holding said member against movement toward said withdrawnposition.

d. said other end portion projecting outwardly from said one end of saidhousing when said member is disposed in said fully extended position foraffording an identifying indicia for the storage unit and a handle formanually moving said member between said fully inserted and withdrawnpositions.

10. A storage unit as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said thirdportion is disposed in said one end of said housing and is engagedtherewith with manually releasable, force frictional fit when saidmember is disposed in said fully inserted position.

1 l. A storage unit as defined in claim 9, and in which a. saidelongated member comprises alternate transversely wider and narrowerportions spaced therealong between said abutment member and said one endportion.

1. A storage unit for storingly supporting and dispensing articles, andcomprising a. an elongated housing having
 1. a tubular side wall, and 2.an open end, and b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piecemember
 1. mounted in said housing in substantially coaxial relationthereto and with a frictional fit relative thereto, and 2.longitudinally reciprocable in said housing through said open end, c.said member including
 1. an elongated body portion extendinglongitudinally of said housing, and
 2. an abutment member a. on the endof said body portion remote from said open end, and b. extendingtransversely to the length of said housing for underlyingly supportingsuch an article in said housing on the side of said abutment memberfacing said open end, d. said body portion having a portion forlaterally supporting such an article so supported on said abutmentmember, and e. said body portion having a sufficiently narrow maximumwidth, at said portion thereof, for permitting such a so supportedarticle to be grippingly engaged between members disposed at oppositelateral sides of said portion of said body portion and lifted by saidlast mentioned members from said elongated member in a directionextending laterally away from said portion of said body portion.
 2. anopen end, and b. an elongated, substantially straight, one-piece member2. longitudinally reciprocable in said housing through said open end, c.said member including
 2. an abutment member a. on the end of said bodyportion remote from said open end, and b. extending transversely to thelength of said housing for underlyingly supporting such an article insaid housing on the side of said abutment member facing said open end,d. said body portion having a portion for laterally supporting such anarticle so supported on said abutment member, and e. said body portionhaving a sufficiently narrow maximum width, at said portion thereof, forpermitting such a so supported article to be grippingly engaged betweenmembers disposed at opposite lateral sides of said portion of said bodyportion and lifted by said last mentioned members from said elongatedmember in a direction extending laterally away from said portion of saidbody portion.
 2. A storage unit for storing elongated articles inlongitudinally stacked relation to each other and for dispensing sucharticles, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated housing having 2.an open end, and b. an elongated member
 2. longitudinally reciprocablein said housing through said open end, c. said member including
 2. anabutment member a. on the end of said body portion remote from said openend, and b. extending transversely to the length of said housing forsupporting such a stack of articles in longitudinally extending relationin said housing, d. said body portion having alternate transverselywider and narrower portions spaced longitudinally therealong forlaterally supporting individual ones of such articles, which are sosupported by said abutment member simultaneously from adjacent ones ofsaid wider and narrower portions and thereby permitting such laterallysupported articles to be grippingly engaged between members disposed atopposite lateral sides of said narrower portions for lifting saidarticles from said elongated member in a direction extending laterallyaway from said narrower portions, e. said wider portions projectingoutwardly beyond said narrower portions in two lateral directions. 2.another end portion remote from said one end portion, and
 2. manually,longitudinally movable in said housing through one end of the latterbetween a. a fully inserted position in said housing, and b. a withdrawnposition in said housing c. said elongated member having
 2. an endportion a. remote from said abutment, and b. projecting outwardly fromsaid one end of said housing, c. for affording an identifying indiciafor the storage unit and a handle for reciprocating said elongatedmember inwardly and outwardly through said one end of said housing. 2.manually reciprocable in said housing through one end of the latterbetween a. an inserted position in said housing, and b. a withdrawnposition in said housing, c. said elongated member engaging said housingwith a frictional fit in said inserted position for releasably holdingsaid elongated member from movement toward said withdrawn position, d.said elongated member having
 3. a third portion disposed between saidone end portion and said other end portion in position to operativelyengage said one end of said housing when said member is disposed in saidfully inserted position for releasably holding said member againstmovement toward said withdrawn position, d. said other end portionprojecting outwardly from said one end of said housing when said memberis disposed in said fully extended position for affording an identifyingindicia for the storage unit and a handle for manually moving saidmember between said fully inserted and withdrawn positions.
 3. A storageunit as defined in claim 2, and in which said elongated member comprisesan elongated, substantially straight strip of sheet material.
 4. Astorage unit as defIned in claim 3, and in which said abutment membercomprises an end portion of said strip.
 5. A storage unit as defined inclaim 2, and in which a. said elongated member includes an end portionprojecting outwardly from said open end in all positions of saidelongated member in said housing and b. said wider portions frictionallyengage said side wall on opposite sides of said housing.
 6. A storageunit for storing articles in stacked relation and dispensing saidarticles therefrom, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated,substantially straight, tubular housing, b. an elongated, substantiallystraight, one-piece member
 7. A storage unit as defined in claim 6, andin which a. said end portion of said elongated member is movable betweenone position wherein it is disposed in substantially longitudinalalignment with said housing and a position wherein it extendstransversely to the length of said housing, when said elongated memberis disposed in said inserted position in said housing.
 8. A storage unitas defined in claim 6, and in which a. said elongated member comprisesalternate transversely wider and narrower portions spaced therealongbetween said abutment member and said one end portion for laterallysupporting individual ones of such stacked articles by adjacent ones ofboth said wider and narrower portions simultaneously.
 9. A storage unitfor storing articles in stacked relation and dispensing said articlestherefrom, said storage unit comprising a. an elongated, substantiallystraight, tubular housing b. an elongated, substantially straight,one-piece member
 10. A storage unit as defined in claim 9, and in whicha. said third portion is disposed in said one end of said housing and isengaged therewith with manually releasable, force frictional fit whensaid member is disposed in said fully inserted position.
 11. A storageunit as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said elongated membercomprises aLternate transversely wider and narrower portions spacedtherealong between said abutment member and said one end portion.